Kilimo Salama (Safe Farming) Weather Index Insurance in Kenya: Early Market Success
The Syngenta Foundation’s Kilimo Salama weather index insurance program has taken off in
Kenya and has recently expanded to Rwanda and Tanzania. Beginning in 2009 with a pilot project offering
index insurance to 200 farmers, at last count 51,000 farmers in Kenya and 14,000 farmers in
Rwanda have the insurance. In 2011, Kilimo Salama’s partner UAP Insurance collected KSh
19 million in premium payments, and premium revenue has nearly doubled to KSh 33
million in just the first six months of 2012. These premium volumes are approaching levels
than can make index insurance economically sustainable in the long term in Africa.
Kenya and has recently expanded to Rwanda and Tanzania. Beginning in 2009 with a pilot project offering
index insurance to 200 farmers, at last count 51,000 farmers in Kenya and 14,000 farmers in
Rwanda have the insurance. In 2011, Kilimo Salama’s partner UAP Insurance collected KSh
19 million in premium payments, and premium revenue has nearly doubled to KSh 33
million in just the first six months of 2012. These premium volumes are approaching levels
than can make index insurance economically sustainable in the long term in Africa.